Something you might not know about me is that, despite having written more science fiction novels than fantasy, I’ve always been a bigger fantasy reader at heart.
Map of Vantera, the kingdom in the Sablewood series by Ariele Sieling.
Fantasy worlds, with their epic quests and magical creatures, have always captured my imagination. But when it came to writing my own stories, I was hesitant, particularly when it came to developing a unique magic system.
I found the idea of designing magic rules for fantasy intimidating. There’s so much out there already—systems based on elements like fire, water, earth, and air; those that rely on spell work or wands; or even magic that’s rooted in ancient languages and incantations. And don’t get me started on the magical creatures! It all felt a bit overwhelming, so I stuck to sci-fi for a long time.
I didn’t make a serious attempt at a fantasy novel until I had already written over twenty books. In hindsight, this was probably a good move because it gave me time to hone my basic writing skills before jumping into the deep end of magic world-building.
But when I finally dove into fantasy, I realized a few things: first, developing a magic system wasn’t as hard as I thought. Second, it wasn’t nearly as rigid as I had assumed. And third, I didn’t have to follow anyone else’s rules.
I could do it all my own way.
Starting Small with Magic System Development
The first thing I learned is that the easiest way to approach magic system development for me—especially because I’m a pantser and typically write by the seat of my pants—was to start with just one feature of the system.
Monstrous creature in a magical fantasy world.
Maybe a type of spell, a magical ability, or even a unique magical creature—but the key for me was to start small. Then, that single feature would become the seed the rest of the magic grew from.
I let it interact with my characters and the world naturally, observing how it influenced everything around it. True to pantser form.
As I wrote, I took notes, piecing together the rules and laws of the magic system as I went. I didn’t worry about getting it perfect from the start because, honestly, nothing kills creativity faster than overplanning.
I kept it loose, and whenever things seemed to go too far, I’d simply give the magic some limitations. And if it felt too limiting? I’d think of it like chemistry and add a “catalyst” to break my own rules.
And it didn’t take long for the shape of the magic system to develop in front of me.
Drawing Inspiration from Other Fantasy Works
Reading tons of fantasy also gave me a solid head start.
I was familiar with common magic system types: the elemental magic systems, spellcasting through wands, and more, because I’d spent my childhood, teenage, and adult years devouring fantasy literature.
I’ve read everything from classics like Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett, and Madeline l’Engle, to works more contemporary to my youth like Neil Gaiman, Cordelia Funke, Tamora Pierce, Gail Carson Levine, Diana Wynne Jones, and yes the now-disgraced JK Rowling—just to name a few. I’ve continued to read as well, trying to broaden my scope to include historical literature, such as Geoffrey of Monmouth (fantasy or history?), modern authors like N.K Jemison, Marissa Meyer, and Sarah J Maass. And I’ve read myriad indie authors who have written everything from fairytale retellings to high fantasy to fantasy romance to cozy fantasy to completely new and unique fantasy that’s completely different than anything I’d read before.
A fantasy scene with a woman gazing up at a looming castle deep in a dark forest.
Having this background knowledge made it easier for me to recognize when I was treading familiar ground and when I was exploring something new. I was constantly on the lookout for new angles and ways to develop magic that I hadn’t seen before—at least, not in the books I’d read.
At the same time, I was familiar with the patterns and the tropes within the genre, so I could attempt to both give my reader something new and interesting, while also blending in some of the tried and true storytelling elements that everyone loves so much.
Lessons Learned from Magic System Development
One thing that stood out to me during this process was how much character interactions with magic reveal about both the magic system and the world. How my characters reacted to, used, or felt about the magic told me a lot about its place in my story.
Another that starting small made it easier for me, yes, But it also had the added benefit of making my story stronger. Keeping the magic system simple at first and then expanding it naturally through the characters’ experiences created inherent conflict and tension that strengthened the narrative, offering layers and complexity I hadn’t even considered when I first started drafting the tale.
Overall, I have found writing fantasy and developing these magical systems incredibly rewarding.
I’ve never enjoyed writing a series as much as I have with my fantasy works like Aria's Song (future fantasy), Sablewood (high fantasy), and Ariele's Fairy Tales (a collection of original fairy tales). These stories have allowed me to explore magic in ways I never thought possible, and I can’t wait to continue delving into this genre.
My newest book, Wilt & Wane, is going to be released in hardcover shortly, and I’m deep into the edits for book 2, so stay tuned! There is more on the way and I’m loving every second of it.
